The former president of International Longshoremen’s Association was sentenced Tuesday to 22 months in prison for his role in a Mafia-involved conspiracy to violently extort ILA Local 1235 longshoremen for Christmastime tribute payments.

Thomas Leonardis, 57, of Glen Gardner, who was president of the union from 2008 to 2011, plead guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court to the conspiracy charge.

Leonardis along with Vincent Aulisi, 82, of West Orange, the president of ILA Local 1235 from 2006 through 2007; and Robert Ruiz, 56, of Watchung, the delegate of the union from 2007 through 2010 and former ILA representative, admitted that they conspired to force workers to make the payments with threats of violence.

Leonardis and Ruiz were suspended from their positions following their arrest in January 2011. Aulisi had already retired.

Charges are still pending against three defendants, including a racketeering conspiracy charge against Stephen Depiro, 59, of Kenilworth, a soldier in the Genovese organized crime family, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman’s office said Tuesday.

Since at least 2005, Depiro has managed the Genovese family’s control over the New Jersey waterfront including the nearly three-decades-long extortion of port workers in ILA Local 1, ILA Local 1235, and ILA Local 1478.

Members of the Genovese crime family are charged with conspiring to collect tribute payments from port workers at Christmastime each year through their corrupt influence over union officials, including the last three presidents of Local 1235, Fishman’s office said.

After his sentence, Leonardis will be subject to three years of supervised release.
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Tom Leonardis, shown here after being elected president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1235 in Newark. Patti Sapone | The Star-Ledger